The Helm

The Helm is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Lindsey Taylor Wood and Erin Shipley, headquartered in New York City with a presence in London. The firm exclusively invests in companies with at least one female founder, backing mission-driven teams using technology to build novel, enduring solutions to difficult problems across a wide range of sectors. Beyond its fund, The Helm operates an angel syndicate membership, giving individual investors — both novice and experienced — access to its deal flow and portfolio companies. It also publishes The Helm Review, an editorial platform covering women's health, entrepreneurship, and innovation, which helps extend the firm's reach and influence within the female founder ecosystem. Its portfolio spans women's health, climate tech, consumer, fintech, and deep tech, with notable investments including Tia (women's primary care), Oova (at-home diagnostics), Mahmee (digital maternal health), itselectric (EV curbside charging), Venus Aerospace (hypersonic travel), Rebellyous Foods (plant-based meat), C16 Biosciences (sustainable palm oil alternative), Hey Jane (telehealth), and Realworld (financial literacy for Gen Z), among many others.